Rev. Fr. Theodore Toppses

Father Ted Toppses was born in East Greenbush, NY to Nicholas and Eftihia (Joy) Toppses. He grew up in Rensselaer County with his brother Tony and was an active member of St. Sophia Greek Orthodox Church in Albany, NY. He holds a Bachelor of Science from Siena College in Loudonville, New York with an emphasis in marketing and management. Fr. Ted is also a graduate of the Management Training program from the Corporate office of Empire Blue Cross/Blue Shield in New York City. In order to fulfill a calling to the Priesthood, he then enrolled at Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology in Brookline, MA for a Masters of Divinity.

 

In 1995, Fr. Ted met his future wife Vicki (nèe Patellis), a fellow Theological student at Holy Cross, and in 1996 they were married. He was ordained to the Diaconate in 1998 and then to the Priesthood in 1999, both at Holy Cross Chapel in Brookline, MA. Fr. Ted’s first assignment was the 1,200 family parish of St. Katherine Greek Orthodox Church in Falls Church, Virginia (a suburb of Washington, DC) as their assistant priest. Fr. Ted and Presvytera Vicki were blessed in July 2001 with the birth of their first daughter, Nicole Eftihia. In late 2001, they moved to Lewiston, Maine where Fr. Ted became the Proistamenos of Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church. In May 2004, they were again blessed with the birth of their second daughter, Julianna Antonia. During his 13 years at Holy Trinity, Fr. Ted revitalized the small parish and, by the grace of God, brought over 60 catechumens into the Orthodox Church. With the illness of Father Michael Bird and his decision to retire in 2014, Father Ted accepted the invitation and assignment as parish Priest at St. Gregory The Theologian Church in Mansfield, MA.

 

Fr. Ted, Presvytera Vicki, Nicole and Julianna love spending time with their family and friends and sharing God’s love with everyone. Fr. Ted is an avid fisherman; loves playing tennis and was a forward in college ice hockey.

 

He thanks God for the ministry that he has been given, and the ability to bring the reality of Christ’s true presence and His love into people’s lives.